03 July

Friday marks four months until Americans head to the polls to choose who will be president.

Incumbent Donald Trump, a Republican, and the presumptive Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, are expected to face off at the ballot box on November 3.

According to US polling website RealClearPolitics, Trump's average support rate stood at 40.4 percent as of the end of June, lagging behind Biden's 50 percent. The gap has been widening since then.

Almost all polls suggest Biden is leading Trump in battleground states. Some media outlets report that the Trump team needs to reorganize his campaign.

Before the pandemic, Trump was trying to win reelection by stressing the strength of the US economy during his tenure.

Now his team has changed tack, presenting Trump as a leader in a time of crisis who is working toward economic recovery. His campaign is focusing on conservative voters to expand support.

Biden is seeking support from undecided voters by taking advantage of public frustration over Trump's handling of the pandemic and anti-racism protests.

Virus outbreaks are flaring up mainly in southern and western states that reopened their economies relatively early. Observers say if the situation worsens, Trump could face further voter frustration.

NHK